Lava vs. Elevate: Compare Virtual Assistant Companies for Insurance

Are you comparing Lava Automation and Elevate Teams as potential partners for virtual assistant support in your insurance agency?

Do you worry about making the wrong choice that could cost you time, compliance, or client trust?

We are often asked how Lava compares with Elevate, which is why we created this side-by-side guide. This article is not about declaring a winner. Both providers support insurance agencies, and each offers distinct strengths and trade-offs.

Our goal is to give you a clear, unbiased breakdown of how the two models differ so you can decide which one fits your agency best.

By the end, you will see how the two providers approach training, support, compliance, and pricing, and which aligns most closely with your goals.

Why should insurance agencies compare Lava with Elevate?

At first glance, many virtual assistant providers look similar. Both Lava and Elevate highlight training, oversight, and pricing as differentiators. But the way they structure their services can have a big impact on how quickly virtual assistants ramp up and how much support agencies must provide themselves.

Bottom line: Both companies train and place virtual assistants for insurance agencies, but their models vary in depth, oversight, and integration.

How does training compare between Lava and Elevate?

Training is one of the first areas where agencies notice differences.

Elevate runs a four-week academy that introduces administrative tasks, insurance concepts, communication, and AMS tools such as Applied Epic and AMS360. This timeline allows virtual assistants to become available to agencies relatively quickly.

Elevate also highlights that its “Elevated” virtual assistants are trained in AMS systems like Applied Epic, AMS360, EZLynx, and HawkSoft.

Lava runs a multi-week program that can last up to twelve weeks. Training covers compliance, CRM systems, and agency workflows. The process includes classroom learning, insurance concepts, supervised simulations, and live system practice with your agency.

What ongoing support does Lava and Elevate provide?

Hiring a virtual assistant is only step one. What happens after placement varies by provider and can shape how successful the partnership becomes.

Elevate states that it stays closely involved after placement by overseeing onboarding, monitoring performance, and providing ongoing coaching and support.

Lava provides monthly coaching, ongoing education, dedicated coaches for each virtual assistant, and performance reviews to help guide long-term success.

How do costs and value compare between Lava and Elevate?

Both companies publish their pricing, which helps agencies plan budgets with confidence. The main difference lies in what the pricing includes.

Elevate lists hourly rates by role type. This makes entry-level costs predictable and allows agencies to choose based on their staffing needs:

Administrative tasks

Client-facing tasks

Advanced (“Elevated”) tasks

Lava also provides transparent pricing on its site. Rates are close to industry averages, with training, compliance oversight, and automation support included in the package.

Lava’s virtual assistants are placed based on the needs of your agency and can have flexible roles depending on the tasks you need completed.

Both Lava and Elevate publish transparent pricing. Elevate highlights role-based hourly rates with training included through its academy, while Lava bundles training, compliance oversight, and automation support into its pricing.

How do security and compliance compare between Lava and Elevate?

Insurance agencies handle sensitive data, so security and compliance safeguards are important in choosing a provider.

Elevate highlights enterprise cybersecurity built on zero-trust principles, a security framework that assumes no user or device is automatically trusted. Every login and action must be verified, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. This system is designed to reduce risk.

Lava incorporates compliance and security into its structure. Virtual assistants undergo background checks, follow SOC 2 standards, a high level of independently audited data security for protecting sensitive client information, and work on secured devices. Restrictions on downloads, 24/7 support, and cyber insurance add further protections.

Elevate highlights zero-trust cybersecurity, while Lava emphasizes SOC 2 compliance, secured systems, and ongoing technical safeguards.

Lava vs. Elevate: Side-by-Side Comparison

Is Lava or Elevate the better fit for your agency?

Agencies that want faster placement and predefined task sets may find Elevate appealing. 

Agencies that prefer deep security compliance, automation, and flexible roles may find Lava more aligned with their goals.

Which virtual assistant provider is right for you?

Hiring the wrong provider can cost your agency payroll, compliance, and client trust. The right choice enables licensed staff to stay focused on clients, improves productivity, and enhances efficiency.

At Lava Automation, we have guided hundreds of agencies through staffing decisions with training, compliance safeguards, and automation support built into every placement. This experience allows us to help agencies reduce administrative work while protecting data and improving efficiency.

Want to see how we prepare virtual assistants before placement? Read How Lava Automation Handles Virtual Assistant Training for a behind-the-scenes look at our process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Lava Automation different from Elevate?
Lava emphasizes longer, customizable training and compliance safeguards, while Elevate emphasizes a structured four-week academy and Spanish-speaking virtual assistants.

Which company can place virtual assistants faster?
Elevate uses a four-week program, which may allow quicker placement. Lava takes longer up front but provides virtual assistants with more flexible insurance workflow training.

What risks come from choosing the wrong provider?
Risks include wasted payroll, compliance errors, and turnover. These risks are lower when training and compliance oversight are aligned with agency needs.

Is Lava Automation right for every agency?
No. Lava is best for agencies that want automation, compliance, and shared oversight.